Apparatus for making paper



G. T.- LANE ET AL 2,16 ,996 7 Filed May is, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER GemukwlLmeaefifimlellB m/ Aug. 8, 1939.

an r Hm m1 v0 0 Maw mm m Q Q g cm Aug. 8, .1939. G. 'r. LANE ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER Filed May 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (@111 INVETN CR8;

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKI G, PAPER Jersey Application May 18, 1937, Serial No. 143,336

8 Claims. (Cl. 92-42) This invention relates to paper making machines and more particularly to wet ends for such machines.

One of the objects of our invention is to producea paper making machine of the type wherein a making wire passes around a cylinder rotatably mounted in a stock vat in which turbulence of the fibers adjacent the making wire is prevented as the wire and cylinder move in the vat circle. Another object of our invention is v to provide a paper making machine in which a plurality of relatively thin streams of stuff are successively fed toward the making wire as it passesthrough the vat circle. Another object 1 of our invention is to provide a plurality of thin streams in which the flow of stuif is at substantiallythe same rate and in which one stream after another may be merged to supply stuff to a wire moving through the vat circle. Still another object of our invention is to eliminate all traces of mottle on paper made on a wire cylinder machine which are due to turbulence of the stuff in the vat circle. Still another object is to divide the vat circle up into a plurality of thin streams each one of which'is divided intoa plurality of streams of less width than the width .of the making wire in order to eliminate turbulence in a vat circle. A still further object of our invention is to provide a plurality of vat circles of different lengths, each vat circle ter-.

minating in an end spaced from the making wire a distance less than the thickness of the deckle straps in .order to eliminate turbulence. A further object of our invention is to provide a method of forming paper which comprises furnishinga plurality of thin streams of stuff successively to a making wire and to provide a method of making paper in which a viscous flow of stuff is maintained to prevent the formation of undesirable markings on the paper. Other objects will appear from the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

This invention is for an improvement over the two-stage gravity flow wet end foi paper making machines shown in our application Serial No. 120,971, filed January 16, 1937. This copending applic'ationdescribes the details of parts of the out,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the wet endof a machine constructed in accordance with and embodying a preferred form of our in vention. This view shows the parts in a simplified form for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-4 of Fig. 1, but with the cylinder removed to show I the construction of the inner vat circles.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts being shown in elevation.

In paper making machines employing a makl0 ing wire passing about a cylinder in which fibers are laid on the wire as it passes through the vat, it has been known that coarse grades of paper and fiber board could be rapidly made on such machines, but they have not been suitable for high-grade paper because of the difficulty in eliminating mottle due to the fact that some fibers were laid,on the wire in a different pattern from other fibers, so that the resulting paper would not present an even fine-grained appearance. In accordance with our present invention, we have provided a method and apparatus for producing a fine-grain paper in which mottle has been eliminated, by providing what we call a viscous flow of stuff around the making wire 5 and cylinder, and thus eliminating eddies or cur rents in the stuff which will tend to alter the relation of the fibers already laid on the making wire.

We prefer to accomplish this by dividing the usual vat circle by means of a series of arcuate plates which are substantially concentrically arrangedso that a series of thin streams of stuff will be successively fed towards the making wire and so that the currents and eddies which always occur where there is any considerable quantity of stuff in contact with the making wire may be eliminated.

We also, prefer to divide each of the thin streams into a series of narrow streams axially of the cylinder, as this also helps produce the desired viscous flow, although this division of the narrow streams is not absolutely essential.

Referring to Fig. 1, the wet end of the paper making machine may comprise a stufi chest I into which stufl may be introduced through an opening 2, this stuif passing the valve 3 and passing about the partitions 4 and 5 in the directions indicated by the arrows. After passing beneath partition 5, the s'tuif may pass upwardly so as to fill the chamber 6, being prevented from leaking out at the point where the deckle straps come in by means of a suitable packing l and being prevented from leaking out where the making wire flcomes in by a controlled leak 9 which may be constructed in accordance with our ,Pat-

ent No. 2,046,271, granted June 30, 1936.

Thus, the stuff fills the chamber 6 and from this chamber in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the stuff is divided into three relatively narrow streams, by means of the inner vat circle plate I0, the intermediate vat circle plate II and the outer vat circle plate I2. Each one of these streams is relatively thin, and each of the streams moves at substantially the same speed which is preferably the speed at which the making wire 8 and the drum I3, carrying the making wire, is moved. The drum may be mounted upon a suitable shaft I4 driven at the desired speed.

The outer vat circle I2 is continued upwardly around the drum I5, so that its upper end I6 may be made to closely approach the making wire 8. In fact, it is desirable to have the extreme ends of the vat circles I0, II and I2 each approach the making wire to such an extent that the distance between the ends of the vat circles is less than the heighth H of the deckle straps II. The construction of the upper part I5 of the vat circle I2 is exactly the same as that shown in our copending application above referred to, and the end of this vat circle I6 is adjustable to and from the cylinder by the same mechanism-that is, a shaft I 9 may be moved by means of a threaded connection 20, worm wheel 2I and worm 22 so as to swing the end of the vat circle I6 upon the pivot I8 to and from the making wire. This movement is permitted because of section 23 hinged at 24 to the section 25 which forms the overflow partition. At the end of this partition there is an adjustable slice 26 movable by the screw 21 and the beveled gears 28 and 29 from a source of power, such as a hand crank, not shown. A pivot I8 connects shaft I9 to the end of vat circle I6.

Beyond the end I6 of the outer vat circle is an adjustable arcuate-shaped plate 38 which controls the horizontal flow of stuff out over the making wire 8 as it leaves the cylinder. This plate, as fully described in our application above referred to, carries an upstanding fiange' 3I and mas be adiusted by means of the screws 32 and 33 which are operated by suitable gears so that the relation of this plate to the making wire and the relation of this plate to the end I6 of the outer vat circle can be adjusted. This varies the outlet slot 34 as fully described in our copending application.

Since the inner vat circle I0 is a.comparatively thin plate which must be properly supported, and since it is also desirable to divide the narrow stream passing between this plate and the making wire into a series of streams axially of the cylinder of less width than the width of the making wire, it is desirable to mount the plate In on partitions 35 which are arcuately-shaped and which, as shown in Fig. 2, are preferably streamlined. As indicated in Fig. 2, the ends 36 of the plates 35 are rounded and taper down to the vide similar arcuate-shaped plates 38, spacing the intermediate vat circle I0 from the outer vat circle I2 just as the inner vat circle I0 is spaced from the intermediate vat circle II. The partition plates 38 are also substantially arcuate shaped and have bulbous ends 39 at the lead-in end for the stuff and have tapered ends 40 at the outgoing end. The tapered ends 40 are preferably in the form of separators, as shown in Fig. 3, and may be used as spacers to retain the intermediate vat circle II in the proper position.

It is also pointed out that the lead-in ends of the vat circles I0 and II are both stream-lined in effect, because the plates forming the vat circles terminate in rounded rods 4I and 42 which extend between the side walls 43 and 44 of the vat, and preferably into the positioning plates 45 and 46. Thus, there is no sharp edge facing the flow of stuff, and the stuff is divided into a series of shallow streams, each of which is preferably divided into a number of streams axially with respect to the cylinder.

Since the deckle straps I1 pass into the vat circles, provision must be made for these deckle straps to pass through the inner, intermediate and outer vat circles. From Fig. 2 it will be noted that edge portions 41 of the inner vat circle III are cut away to provide a space through which the deckle straps may pass. Similarly, edge portions 48 of the vat circle II are cut away to provide a space for the deckles I'I, fragments of which are shown in Fig. 2 to indicate their relation to the walls 43 and 44 of the vat and to the vat circles II and I2. Smaller portions 49 of each edge of the vat circle II are cut away, the reason for this being that it is desirable to have portions of this vat circle so arranged that when the machine is being cleaned out, the wash water can pass downwardly through the openings 49 and out through the pipes 50, the valves of which 5| are opened for the washing operation.

While we have shown in a preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the drawings, a vat circle which divides the stream of stuff into three thin layers, it is obvious that more or less of these divided partitions may be found useful in accordance with the size of the machine, the velocity of the stufi and the type of paper which is to be made. We have found, however, that with the construction shown, a viscous flow of stuff can be maintained in a IOU-inch machine in an entirely satisfactory manner. It is to, be understood, however, that the present embodiment is illustrative only of our invention, and

that such alterations as-the number and width of the individual streams fed toward the making wire can be altered as desired, to fit the needs of the particular machine being designed.

Our method of feeding thin streams of stuff successively to a making wire at substantially the speed of the making wire and then removing the making wire from the stuff chest with the web on it provides a paper which is unusually uniform in texture and which can be made at a comparatively rapid rate without sacrificing strength of the paper and without having the fibers show a directional effect. That is, we have found that where the stuff is adequately prepared and the fibers fiowtoward the making wire at the same speed as the making wire, the direction of the fibers will not change if eddies are successfully eliminated. Thus, the fibers may be oriented in any direction, and they will retain their positions as long as the streams are kept sufiiciently viscous.

The operation of our machine is simple in that the stufi flows in through theinlet 2 after having been adequately prepared and mixed, and the stufl. fills the chamber 8 from which, in the present embodiment of our invention, three streams are directed through the curved paths about the'cylinder and making wire by means of the inner vat circle, the intermediate vat circle and the outer vat circle.

,All of the stream passing between the inner vat circle and the making wire is in contact with the making wire, and white water passes through the stream into the interior of the drum from whichit will be drained by pipes it in the manner' fully disclosed in our prior Patent No. 2,046,270, granted June 30, 1936.

As the'moisture is drained from the stream between the inner; vat circle Ill'a'nd the drum,

andas the, inner vat circle to gradually approaches the making wire, a second stream will be merged with the first stream, this stream passing between vat circles l and II. These streams merge in such a manner that a. perfectly even flow is carried to the making wire. As one stream afteranother is brought into contact with the making wire, it will be, seen that since these streams are moving at the same speed, no eddies or currentsare set up which will vary the relative location of the various fibers suspended in the white water. Consequently, as the white water is drained through the making wire and cylinder, an even'deposit of fibers is laid on the wire.

As in our application above referred to and as in our Patent No. 2,046,270, we prefer to flow out a horizontal layer of stuff over the wire as it leaves the cylinder, as this eiiectually prevents wash-oil lines which would otherwise occur when the making wire leaves the stufi chest, particularly ii the making wire should leave the stufi chest at an angle.

The stufl which does not flow beneath the plate ll out horizontally over the wire may pass up through the opening 34 and may fiow over the partition plates 23 and 25 and out over the slice 2. which controls the. elevation 'of stufl in this chamber. From the slice 26 the'stufl may flow out through the outlet 63.

the making wire above the plate" as the slice 2' cannot be raised above the top of the flange 3|.

Having described our method and apparatus for making paper, it will be obvious that various modifications may suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of our invention as set forth in the appended claims. i

' Whatwe claim is: f

1. In a paper making machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a stud! chest in which the cylinder is revolvably mounted, a stun inlet, curved plates forming-vat circles extending from the stun. inlet partially around the cylinder, the. curved vat circle plates being of diiierent lengths with the shortest next to the cylinder whereby a number of relatively thin layers of stuff may be successively fed toward the cylinder.

2. In a paper making machine, the combination with a'cylinder, of a stud chest inwhich the cylinder is revolvably mounted, a stun. inlet,

[0 curved plates forming vat circles extending from the stui! inlet partially around the cylinder, the

curved vat circle plates oi diilerent lengths The upwardlyeturned flange 3| prevents the stun: from flowing out on with the shortest next to the cylinder whereby anumber of relatively thin layers of stuff may be successively fed toward the cylinder and a plurality of curved partition plates extending between the vat circle plates.

3.,In apaper making machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a stuff chest in which the cylinder is revolvably mounted, 2. stuff inlet, curved plates forming vat circles extending from the stuff inlet partially around the cylinder, the curved vat circle plates being of different lengths with the shortest next to the cylinder whereby a number of relatively thin layers of stuff may be successively fed toward the cylinder and a plurality of curved partition plates extending between the vat circle plates, each partition plate including a bulbous end near the stuff inlet and a .relatively sharp edge at the opposite end.

4. In a paper making machine, the combination with a cylinder, of a stun chest in which the cylinder is revolvably mounted, a stuff inlet, a vat circle comprising a plurality of substantially concentrically arranged plates for dividing the 'stufi from the inlet into a series of relatively thin layers, each successive plate starting from the cylinder being longer so as to feed one thin layer of stuff after another toward the cylinder.

5. In a paper making machine, the combination with a stuff chest in which the cylinder is revolvably mounted a stuiI' inlet, a plurality of streamlined partition plates forming a number of substantially concentric 'vat circles, the end of each vat circle being formed inwardly toward the cylinder. 1

6. In a paper making machine, the combina tion with a stuff chest, a. cylinder revolvably mounted therein, deckel straps carried near the edges of said cylinder, a plurality of partition plates forming a number of substantially concentric vat circles, the end of each vat circle being gradually formed inwardly toward the cylinder,

the ends of each vat circle extending between the deckel straps.

7, In a paper making machine, the combination with a stufi chest, a cylinder revolvably mounted therein, deckel strapscarried near the edges of said cylinder, a plurality of partition plates forming a number oi. substantially concentric vat circles, the end of each vat circle being gradually formed inwardly toward the cylinder, notches in the edges at the ends of each vat circle through which the deckel straps may pass, the

ends 01' each vat circle lying between said deckel l straps.

8. In a paper making machine, the combination with a stufl chest, including side and end walls and in which a cylinder is revolvably mounted, a stun inlet, a number of plates curved in cross-section and spaced closely together and open toward the stufl' inlet, the major portion 01 said plates being substantially concentric with the cylinder and extending to the side walls or the stufl chest to 'form vat circles, the curved plate furthest from the cylinder being materially longer than the next curved plate nearer the cylinder whereby thin streams of stuii may be delivered from the inlet toward the cylinder, said streams merging at the ends of the plates whereby a single homogeneous layer of fibres may be deposited on the cylinder.

' GEROULD T.'LANE.

WENDELL BUTI'ERFIEID. 

